The Braves’ first exhibition at SunTrust Park on Friday night against the Yankees "exposed a few stadium glitches that team officials vow to correct before the regular-season home opener April 14," according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Braves President of Business Derek Schiller said, “I’d say most everything was somewhat anticipated and can easily be fixed.” Tucker noted the main video board "malfunctioned in the sixth inning," and some fans in the first row of seats down the left-field line "had their view of the field blocked by the rolled-up tarp." Braves President of Development Mike Plant and Schiller also said that waits at many concession stands "were longer than desired" (AJC.com, 4/1). YES Network's Ken Singleton noted some of the railing down the foul lines and near the dugouts "needed to have padding on them" ("Yankees-Braves," YES Net, 3/31). Meanwhile, widespread warnings about the effect of the collapse of a section of I-85 in Atlanta "convinced many fans to arrive early." Many also "followed the advice to avoid congested interstates and take back roads" (AP, 3/31). In Atlanta, Helena Oliviero noted complaints about traffic for the game "were minimal." Plant said that the Braves expect "12,000 to 13,000 vehicles per game" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/1). In Marietta, Carlton White noted a small sampling of fans attending the first game at SunTrust Park had "one overwhelming opinion of their seat location -- they generally liked them" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 4/2).
WELCOME HOME: In Marietta, Ricky Leroux noted before the game fans "milled around" The Battery Atlanta mixed-use development, "waiting for the stadium's gates to open and exited the two restaurants that were open, the Terrapin Taproom featuring Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and First & Third Hot Dog and Sausage Shack, before first pitch." During the game, a number of fans "stayed in the Battery eating at the restaurants and enjoying the new atmosphere" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 4/1). Also in Marietta, John Bednarowski noted one of SunTrust Park's "unique features will be the area called Below The Chop -- a fenced-in area below the Chop House in right field, and mere feet behind the right fielder." The Yankees started RF Aaron Judge and it "did not take him long to start hearing some of the chattering coming in from behind him" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 4/1).
DIGGIN' THE NEW LOOK: In Marietta, Nubyjas Wilborn noted Braves LF Matt Kemp was "instantly struck" by the new clubhouse. Kemp: "It's perfect. It has everything you need, even has stuff you don't think you need until you have it. Then, you're like, 'How did we make it without this?' They didn't miss anything in here. This will be where players want to be for years to come." Wilborn noted Braves SS Dansby Swanson has the "unique perspective of growing up a few miles from what is now SunTrust while attending games at Turner Field." Swanson: "I used to love Turner, and I'll miss it, but this is really awesome. It's so big for the community. Fans will have so much to do" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 4/1). In Atlanta, Mark Bradley wrote as of right now, the Braves' "biggest lure is SunTrust Park, but that new-park smell wears off fast if the quality of play is, shall we say, odoriferous" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/2).
A MATTER OF TRUST: In Atlanta, Phil Hudson noted SunTrust's naming-rights deal is the bank's "biggest marketing deal in its 125-year history." SunTrust Chair & CEO Bill Rogers Jr. said, “We’ve had a multi-decade relationship with the Atlanta Braves. ... We decided fairly early on that we wanted to be part of this and we wanted to have the naming rights.” Rogers added, “The naming rights are the interesting part but there’s so much more than the naming rights. The thing that really cemented the opportunity for us is the Braves embraced us as a purpose-driven company. ... In addition to all of the physical things you see here with the naming rights, we’re going to have the ‘onUp’ experience for all fans right outside so as you come into The Battery and the ballpark, it’s in this A-1 position in the perfect corner right where you want it with a great partnership with the Braves. We’ll be able to engage with fans in that experience.” When asked about the ROI, Rogers said, “The part that we didn’t count on is how much the term ‘SunTrust Park’ is used. I was coming from out-of-town and came up the elevator at Hartsfield-Jackson (Atlanta Int'l Airport) the other day when I saw SunTrust Park on a sponsorship that Delta is doing welcoming Veterans to Atlanta. That’s just a great additional branding opportunity” (ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 4/3 issue).
